Thread guide and clearing device.



G. F. MAGFARLANE.

THREAD GUIDE AND CLEARING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1910.

, 1,023,578. Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Witnesses pairs s FIfiE.

GEORGE F. MACFARLANE, OF WILKES-BARB E, PENNSYLVANIA.

THREAD GUIDE AND CLEARING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Application filed January 7, 1910. Serial No. 536,896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon F. MAorAn- LANE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of l/Vilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thread Guide and Clearing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide a combined thread guide and cleaning or clearing device suitable for clearing thread or yarn of dirt, waste, etc., in spooling and like machines and for stopping the thread or yarn in the case of large knots or other obstructions which are not readily detachable.

The invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a thread guide embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the same; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. i is a section on the line H of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the clearing blade.

I have illustrated the invention in connection with a. thread guide which is somewhat similar to that shown in Patent No. 920,486 to J. R. Mitchell, but it will be understood that my invention is not limited to this particular form of guide.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the body of a thread guide which is made of suitable hard material having a smooth eX- terior, such as porcelain. In the upper middle portion of the guide block there is a transverse thread guiding groove 2 which is narrow at one end 3 and flaring or funnelshaped at the other end 1. The thread or yarn enters the wide end and leaves the narrow end in the preferred manner of operating the device. A suitable opening 5 is provided for a screw or bolt for connecting the guide block to the machine frame or rail upon which it is supported. In so far as described my invention may be the same as the block shown in the patent referred to.

I provide a clearing blade 6 and mount the same adj ustably in the block so that) it will extend transversely across the guide groove 2, preferably in the open or funnel-shaped end thereof. This blade is adjustable vertically so as to permit thread, cord or yarn of dif ferent sizes to pass through without rubbing on the edge of the blade. The free end of the blade has its upper edge rounded as shown at 7, and its lower edge sharpened or narrow, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The lower edge may be termed a knife edge as its function is to cut or clear away any loose waste, dirt or other matter adhering to the thread or cord. The blade 6, as shown, is carried by a plate 8 which is vertically adjustable in a recess 9 in the block 1. The plate is supported and normally pressed upward by a spring 10 which rests on the bottom of the recess. An adjusting screw 11 passes through the plate 8 and through a nut 12 which is located in a recess in the bottom of the block and which fits the recess so that it will not turn therein. The intermediate portion of the blade lies in a longitudinal recess 13 in the block extending from the recess 9 to the guide groove The free end of the blade is preferably beveled, so as to conform to the wall of the diverging end of the groove as shown in Fig. 1.

In operation the blade 6 is adjusted so that its lower edge will just clear the upper surface of the thread, cord or yarn when the latter is stretched in normal position through the guide groove and rests on the bottom of the groove. Any adhering substances will be cut away or scraped off by the blade, or in the case of large knots or matter adhering firmly the operator can out out a section and rejoin the ends by a small knot.

It will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 that a thread placed in the guide groove over the blade will readily and automatically pass down over the curved end of the blade and under its lower edge.

It will be evident that my invention may be embodied in other forms than that illus trated, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise design, construction and arrangement shown in the drawing.

In the following claims the term thread is to be understood as including thread, yarn, cord or other material which the de vice described is adapted to operate on.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A thread guide and clearer for spooling and like machines, consisting of a continuous blockhaving a central transverse guide groove in its upper surface, an opening at one side of said guide groove to receive means for attaching the block to the frame of a machine and a clearing device yieldingly mounted on the other side of the guide groove and having a blade Within and extending transversely of said groove, for the purpose set forth.

2. A thread guide and clearer for spooling and like machines, comprising a continuous block having a central transverse guide groove in its upper surface, said groove having a flaring forward end, said block having a recess at one side of said groove to receive means for attaching the block to the frame of a machine and having a recess on the opposite side of said groove, in combination with a clearing device yieldingly seated in said latter recess and having a blade extending transversely of the groove and normally located above the bottom of the groove in the flaring portion thereof.

3. A thread guide and clearer comprising a block having a transverse groove flaring at one end, a blade extending transversely of the flaring portion of the groove, a plate arranged in a recess of the block and carrying said blade, a spring in said recess supporting the plate, and means for adjusting the plate and blade against the tension of said spring. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE F. MAOFARLANE. \Vitnesses JOHN P. POLLOCK, J. CLAIRE JOHNSTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

